The other day, when I was out for a walk with my Husband and our two dogs, the sun was shining as we left the house. Around half an hour later, just as we had turned back to head home, some dark clouds started to roll in from the sea, and suddenly, before we knew what had hit us, we were caught in a downpour. It wasn’t just heavy rain, which would have been bad enough, it was hail.
I pulled up the hood of my jacket, put my head down and just kept walking.
There’s problem with that particular hood though. It’s a really impractical design. Fully up, it obscures my peripheral vision so that I can only see directly in front of me. That’s not only a nuisance but it’s dangerous on a road like ours where there’s no pavement. Not only could I not see where I was walking, but I couldn’t see whether there were any cars coming.
I’d only gone a few steps when I peeped out from under my voluminous hood to see that my husband was walking directly in front of me; all I could see were his shoes, but I it was all I needed to see. didn’t need to see.

All I had to do was keep watching where David’s shoes went, and follow where he walked.
David wasn’t wearing a jacket with a hood, so he could see clearly where he was going. It struck me in that I trust my husband so implicitly that I hadn’t even given it a second thought.

And in that moment I sensed the Lord say to me “that is exactly how I lead you. You don’t need to know where you’re going. You don’t always have to see the road ahead, you just need to trust my leadership and follow where I lead you”

Sometimes life can be like that, can’t it? It’s sunny and clear one moment and you’re just enjoying the view. Then storm clouds roll in and you can’t see a way ahead. You don’t know which way to go, and you’re being pelted from every side by hailstones.
If that’s you today, I hope that encourages you, as it did me!

Remember that God Himself goes before you: Deuteronomy 31:8 “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Your Shepherd leads you, he doesn’t drive you and push you from behind, He calls you by name and exhorts you to follow Him. You can trust His leadership

John 8:3-5:
“The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

At times when your world seems dark and you can’t see a way ahead, remember that Jesus is the Light of The World and He lives in you, you never have to walk in darkness. John 8:12:
Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

You don’t have to try to work out or worry about what path to take. God’s Word “is a lamp to [your] feet and a light to [your] path” Psalm 119:105

Just pick up your copy of The Word of God – in whatever version you love best, there are so many to choose from! And ask God to speak to you.
If you’re His sheep, you hear His voice. You may have temporarily forgotten what it sounds like, but deep down you know it!
And then follow where He leads.

Jill 💜

PS: Below is a link to an item in my Etsy shop Miss Maisie’s Wee Shop, where I sell my handmade jewellery & gifts made from upcycled vintage materials. This one is made from an old pocket watch, a butterfly, a pearl, some old watch cogs and hand engraved copper, set in resin:

To view in the shop, for further details or to purchase, just click highlighted text below.